The British Museum, Victoria and Albert, and Mozart’s Requiem at Southbank Centre

The British Museum

The British Museum is the quintessential historical/cultural museum. It combines an enormous collection of physical objects with unparalleled research facilities. Some of the collection was gathered up during the height of the British Empire in locales where the indigenous leadership (if any) had little interest in saving historical artifacts — or was unable to stop the collection activities. Some of those areas, now modern nation states, would now like their stuff back. There is an overarching question as to whether or not the objects would still exist if they hadn’t been collected and shipped to England.

1. The British Museum’s Great Court. This was covered over in 2000, and now is the focal point for most of the museum’s supporting activities. The central structure used to be the museum’s Reading Room.(Click image to enlarge)

2. The Rosetta Stone…And a constant stream of viewers.(Click image to enlarge)

3. Grecian Marbles. (Click image to enlarge)

4. Greek Temple. (Click image to enlarge)

5. Assyrian lion hunting — a sport for kings which also symbolized him protecting his people. (Click image to enlarge)

6. Egyptian sculpture. (Click image to enlarge)

The Victoria and Albert Museum

An eclectic collection of modern and old. Contemporary fashion and fabrics to ancient marble statues — and reproductions. A huge collection.

7. A tiny part of the collection, in just one gallery. (Click image to enlarge)

8. Medieval oak sculpture. (Click image to enlarge)

9. Detail of a monument to Sir Moyle Finch and his wife Elizabeth. He died in 1614 — she in 1634. His eyes closed — hers open.(Click image to enlarge)

10. Moonrise over the Thames, from the Hungerford Bridge. The white dome of St Paul’s to the left, and the Shard on the far right above Royal Festival Hall.(Click image to enlarge)

Photo Notes:

Because of the way the blog software downsamples the in-column images, you need to click the images to see them more clearly.